Distinguishing between Coyotes, Wolves and Dogs

Coyotes and Wolves by SIGHT

These two animals have similar coat colors, but different facial characteristics. The coyote on the left has a narrow snout and small nose pad, with large ears relative to its head size. The wolf on the right has a broad snout and large nose pad, with small ears relative to its head size. IMPORTANT: Wolf pups in mid-summer and fall can closely resemble coyotes, and it can be nearly impossible to tell them apart.

COYOTE (Canis latrans)

GRAY WOLF (Canis lupus)

Face

Narrow and pointed; small nose pad

Broad and blocky; large nose pad

Ears

Taller and pointed

Short and rounded

Shoulder Height

21 - 24 inches

26 - 32 inches

Length

3.5 - 4.5 feet (nose to tail tip)

4.5 - 6.5 feet (nose to tail tip)

Weight

15-50 pounds

70-150 pounds

Coat

Gray or reddish brown, often grizzled, often with whitish throat, chest, and/or belly

Grizzled gray is most common, but can also be mostly or all black; white or cream coats rare outside far northern populations

Coyotes and Wolves by SOUND

COYOTE (Canis latrans)

Voice typically higher pitched

Howls shorter, rising and falling in pitch

Usually interspersed with yips, yaps, and barks

GRAY WOLF (Canis lupus)

Voice typically lower in pitch

Howling tends to be long and drawn-out

Can also include growls and barks

Coyotes and Wolves by SIGN

Tracks

COYOTE (Canis latrans)

2.25 - 2.75 inches long, by 1.75 - 2.5 inches wide

Crisp edges, especially in summer when less hair is present

Long axes of the toes typically parallel

Main pad of hind feet distinctly different than that of fore feet

Claws of outer toes may not register

GRAY WOLF (Canis lupus)

4 - 5.5 inches long, by 3.75 - 5 inches wide

Very robust, especially in winter when extra hair is present between toes

Inner toes appear bigger than in coyote tracks

Outer toes, especially on fore feet, may tend to splay

All four claws typically show in tracks

Scats

COYOTE (Canis latrans)

Usually less than 1 inch in diameter

May contain ungulate hair, but more typically contain hair and small bone fragments from rodents, rabbits

Smoother, shinier appearance than wolf scat

May taper to a point at one end

GRAY WOLF (Canis lupus)

Diameter ranges from .5 - 1.5 inches, but usually greater than 1 inch

Often cord-like; may contain ungulate hair and bone fragments

Generally taper to a point at one end

Dogs and Wolves

Distinguishing dogs from wolves can be challenging. Many of the traits possessed by wolves can also be found in domestic dogs, so no single trait should be used to definitively distinguish a dog from a wolf. When observing an animal, it is desirable to consider as many of the following traits as possible, including the animal’s behavior. Wild wolves will almost never approach a human.

Eyes

Scats

Has a consistent appearance due to the consistency of commercial dog food

Often lacks a tapered end

GRAY WOLF (Canis lupus)

Diameter ranges from .5 - 1.5 inches, but usually greater than 1 inch

Often cord-like; may contain ungulate hair and bone fragments

Generally taper to a point at one end

Tracks

It can be impossible to distinguish a large dog from a wolf from a single track. Instead, if possible look for the pattern of the trail left by the animal. Dogs’ pattern of walking reflects their domestic lifestyle. They do not rely on stealth, and tend to walk erratically. Their hind foot tracks seldom register within their forefoot tracks. They may also approach strange objects directly. Wolves on the other hand, tend to walk more directly when travelling. Their trails reflect this, as the track of the hind foot is placed within or directly in front of the forefoot. Wolves will also approach strange objects cautiously, often circling widely to investigate rather than approaching directly.